gfiles magazine

December 10, 2015

For
distinguished service in the field of nuclear science, with massive
contribution for the advancement of the science and India’s nuclear
energy programme

Born on
November 11, 1943, in Barwani village of Madhya Pradesh, Dr Anil
Kakodkar joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in 1964 and
became its Director in 1996. He was the Chairman, Atomic Energy
Commission, and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of
Atomic Energy, during 2000-09. He was DAE Homi Bhabha Chair Professor at
BARC during 2010-15.

In
BARC’s reactor engineering division he played a key role in design and
construction of the Dhruva reactor, an original high-tech project. He
was in the core team of architects of India’s peaceful nuclear tests in
1974 and 1998. He also led the indigenous development of India’s
pressurised heavy water reactor technology and rehabilitated two
reactors at Kalpakkam and the first unit at Rawatbhata.

Dr
Kakodkar led the pursuit of utilising thorium as a fuel for nuclear
energy and development of national capability in all aspects of atomic
energy for which he built competent teams of specialised scientists and
engineers. Currently, he engages in designing the advanced heavy water
reactor, which uses thorium-uranium 233 as the primary energy source
with plutonium as the driver fuel. The unique reactor system, with
simplified but safe technology, will generate two-thirds of electricity
from thorium. His efforts have made India a country with advanced
nuclear technology.

About us

gfiles is the country's first independent magazine written, designed and produced for India's civil services—the vast and formidable
network of bureaucracies and public sector organisations that
provides continuity and stability to this nation's
governance.